Has identity politics replaced that of social class?

I didn't see any publicity about RB's venture, eloethan. So, someone who has boasted about never voting is now 'telling' other people to vote Green? Still, I suppose that could be seen as evidence that he has some faith in democracy, even an imperfect one, so for him that's an improvement. Perhaps he is maturing a little at last.

I thought that was her point, Ana, that not many of us noticed it even though it was in the media.

He's not like Jamie Oliver, who opens up Fifteen cafes and is all over the newspapers.
Russell Brand does not get noticed for his better motives, just for the ones where he is seen as a self-serving idiot. In this case he wasn't.

And your point is...what, exactly?

I've already said there was plenty of media coverage. As for 'several' Gransnetters knowing nothing about the café opening, only two have said they weren't aware of it. Perhaps a lot more aren't interested in RB an his doings, and the event just passed them by.

I didn't say he was doing it by stealth - I expect he would appreciate some publicity - most new ventures do.

Practically everyone on TV seems to have an opinion on Russell Brand - and it's not usual a complimentary one. The main thrust seems to be that he's a self-serving idiot who doesn't put his money where his mouth is. You say there has been a lot of coverage about the cafe but I didn't see/read it (my husband told me about it) - and it appears that several Gransnetters knew nothing about the cafe opening.

Oh, I see - (although I did actually know what 'champagne socialist' means!)

For what it's worth I think what he's doing is admirable, but the idea that he's doing good by stealth is IMO untenable.

Ana - FlicketyB referred to Russell Brand as a "champagne socialist" - i.e. someone who is rich and lives the high life whilst professing to care about less well off people but who does nothing about it.

I can't see any 'snide comments' about RB on this thread, petallus.

Easy to be cynical and make snide comments. I think he is sincere.

I wasn't aware.

I have a lot of respect for RB.

I wasn't, as I've said.

Please Gransnetters - how many of you were aware that Russell Brand had used the proceeds of his book "Revolution" to finance a cafe, which provides training and employment for recovering addicts and provides reasonably priced drinks and snacks for the community?

I saw it. It's on the New Era estate where he helped the residents in their fight to keep their houses and flats.
Haven't bought the book, though, although I have just started reading Caroline Lucas's book, Honourable Friends?

Brand is telling people to vote Green now.

I'm not sure what you're trying to prove, Eloethan. The fact is that the opening of the café was reported widely. The Telegraph report even had a video of Brand at the opening, and the Guardian made a point of informing its readers that it had been funded from the profits of Revolution.

If no one else on GN knew about it they can't say it's because it wasn't publicised enough!

The i must be about the only newspaper that didn't cover the story.

I read "The I" every day, but I had not seen reports about the opening of the cafe - I only found out through my husband going on Twitter.

How many other Gransnetters, apart from Ana, had seen the news that Russell Brand had opened a cafe, run by recovering addicts and paid for from the proceeds of his book "Revolution"?

I hadn't seen the reports of his cafe. But that isn't saying a lot

Sorry, Eloethan, I did not mean that. I meant that others do the same as him, and like him, do not crow about it.
I actually like Russell Brand for his political stand, particularly about housing and poverty. I saw it, but did not think of it as crowing. I obviously expressed myself badly.

Excellent post, flick, at 11:18. It explains, to me at any rate, what he's doing very well. Thank you.

Now I'll go back and read the posts that come after that.

I did. And a quick google reveals that it was reported in most of the daily newspapers. It was probably on the BBC news as well.

Well, I'm a great supporter of Russell Brand - naive and simplistic he may be but I think his heart is in the right place. It was my husband who alerted me to the fact that, as promised, RB had - using the proceeds of his book - opened a cafe staffed by recovering addicts. I hadn't seen reports of it on TV or in the papers.

As a matter of interest, who on Gransnet had seen reports on TV/in the papers that Russell Brand had opened a cafe for recovering addicts?

jen I think 'production' now includes the financial and service industries - anything which brings money into the economy.
Perhaps that's why class divisions aware now so indistinct.
All those financial whizz kids working in the city, and anyone treating someone from overseas in a private hospital, would have to be regarded as working class.

Well I didn't know about it, but it sounds amazing and well done him.
As for publicising it, that's justified because other people may follow his example - social reinforcement. And be more sympathetic to recovering addicts.
I've sometimes argued with MrA about sharing charity donations I make on Facebook. He doesn't like it because he thinks it's boasting about giving money away. My argument is that it raises awareness, particularly of smaller charities that people might not have heard of, and might then feel they would like to make a donation themselves.

I agree, whitewave, there's no reason at all why he shouldn't publicise his efforts. He doesn't seem the type to hide his light under a bushel!

It doesn't really matter though whether he shouted it from the roof tops the point is he has an idea and energy (more than enough if everything is to be believed!) and they are out there in the social sphere with something like 10 million followers so not everyone thinks he is misguided.

Together with the fact that the profits from 'Revolution' had been used for the enterprise.

He didn't exactly keep it quiet. The opening of the café was widely reported in the media at the time.